Meditation for April 29, Discreet Silence

An author who wrote well of the foster father of Jesus said:

"From the depth of obscurity where he lived with his work, St. Joseph had strength not to tell people, 'The Son of God is here.' Many speak who have nothing to say. St. Joseph had everything to say and was silent. He kept in his heart all the grandeur he contemplated." (Ernest Hello.)

What a marvelous silence was St. Joseph's! But do we not ac­cuse him sometimes of carrying it too far? Would it have not been better to shout to the world about the hidden treasure he sheltered in his little workshop? Decidedly not! Jesus reserved to Himself the privilege of announcing to the world His Message, His Revelations and His Gospel. One thing was asked of Joseph­ that He keep silence.

He looks, contemplates, communes. He loves, that is enough.

If my vocation be exclusively or chiefly contemplative, the silent St. Joseph should be my model, especially in his interior silence of which the exterior was only an indication.

If my vocation admits of or exacts some activity, my model is Joseph whose spirit of contemplation was an active one. His lips were silent but his hammer and saw made noise, a soothing noise of holy work accomplished for God and which consequently did not disturb his interior silence.

O St. Joseph, Father of fruitful silence and of fruitful activity, teach me to find rest in the silence of prayer and my activity in work without abandoning prayer.

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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)